Introduction Jesus had four brothers, and at least two sisters (Mark 6:3; Matt. 13:55-56). The names of His brothers were James, Joses, Judah, and Simon. James was the author of the book of James, and Judah was the author of the book of Jude (Jude 1:1). With Joseph and Mary having that number of children, …
When Preaching to Humans, In Other Words
“In preaching to children, and to the great mass of adults, illustration is simply indispensable . . . The example of our Lord decides the whole question” (Broadus, Preparation and Delivery, p. 216).
Spring Loaded
One of the things we should have realized by now is that the world around us is far crazier than we could ever have dreamed. Just when we have finally accommodated ourselves to taking yesterday’s staggering discoveries for granted, along comes another one. Our sinful hearts have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for …
What Mary Knew
Introduction Last week we considered what Joseph knew, and obviously Mary knew all the same things, and for the same reason. But she had more direct experience with the marvels that came to earth through her. For example, the angelic communication with Joseph came through dreams, but came to her directly. The Text: “And the …
On Knowing Where You Have to Land
“The preacher, of all men, should study the common mind, and seek fully to understand, not only its forms of expression, but, what is still more important, its ways of thinking” (Broadus, Preparation and Delivery, p. 210).
Up and Down the Pew
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) The Basket Case Chronicles #137 “Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that …
What Joseph Knew
Introduction Before discussing what Joseph knew, we should perhaps begin by considering what we know about Joseph. Despite the fact that we tend to assume we know very little, we may be surprised to discover how much in fact we do know. This is even more surprising when we consider that in the entire scriptural …
Proclaiming By Remembrance
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) The Basket Case Chronicles #136 “After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as …
Why Children Matter (4)
Introduction Biblical parenting is much more than a bag of tips and techniques. Techniques are helpful if you are learning to paint-by-numbers, but that is not the kind of thing we are doing when we are bringing up little children. Godly parenting is a function of becoming more like Jesus in the presence of little …
Why Children Matter (3)
Nurture and Admonition in the 21st Century Introduction Last week we distinguished discipline from punishment. That initial distinction was that discipline is corrective and punishment is concerned with retribution. But once we have accepted the duty of administering parental discipline, we discover that discipline falls naturally into two categories—corrective and formative. The Text: “And, ye …